What Is A Doll worth, and why?
What is a doll
worth? My number 1 rule of thumb is that a " doll is worth what other collectors
are willing to pay for it". Think of it like any other collectible item, who
else would want to own it? Who would want to buy it and what would they pay for
it?!
I remember one time a guy asked me what his sister's doll would be worth. It was their grandmother's doll and had so much sentimental value, and it was old!! I asked him what kind of doll it was, and if he could describe it. He told me it had a metal painted head and a leather body....Hmmm, I thought, this sure does sound like a Minerva Metal head doll made in Germany in the early 1900's. However, I asked him to email me a picture of it, I wanted to see it. He did indeed send a photo to me. Lo and Behold, it was the metalhead doll from Germany! However, the condition was less than desirable. Some of her painted features had worn away. Her leather body was mediocre and had sawdust leaking from it so it was taped shut. Oh the agony, I had to tell him the dolly was worth between $10.00 and $20.00, if that, due to many factors. One being that these dolls were mass produced and there are many to be found. That alone brings the value way down, and then the condition, oh my. Bottom line was this, the doll had sentimental value, I mean it was his grandmother's doll. Other than that, well you know what I mean, not much.
Unfortunately, just because a doll is 80 or 100 years old etc, doesn't mean it is valuable. There are many things to consider, I will try to list some.
I remember one time a guy asked me what his sister's doll would be worth. It was their grandmother's doll and had so much sentimental value, and it was old!! I asked him what kind of doll it was, and if he could describe it. He told me it had a metal painted head and a leather body....Hmmm, I thought, this sure does sound like a Minerva Metal head doll made in Germany in the early 1900's. However, I asked him to email me a picture of it, I wanted to see it. He did indeed send a photo to me. Lo and Behold, it was the metalhead doll from Germany! However, the condition was less than desirable. Some of her painted features had worn away. Her leather body was mediocre and had sawdust leaking from it so it was taped shut. Oh the agony, I had to tell him the dolly was worth between $10.00 and $20.00, if that, due to many factors. One being that these dolls were mass produced and there are many to be found. That alone brings the value way down, and then the condition, oh my. Bottom line was this, the doll had sentimental value, I mean it was his grandmother's doll. Other than that, well you know what I mean, not much.
Unfortunately, just because a doll is 80 or 100 years old etc, doesn't mean it is valuable. There are many things to consider, I will try to list some.
1. How desirable is
this particular doll with other collectors?
2. What condition is
the doll in? Mint condition means "as new".
3. Does the doll
still have its original box?
4. How many were
produced, and how many still exist?
Just like anything else it's all about.....supply and demand!
1. How desirable is this particular doll with other collectors?? If no one wants to own it, then its not worth much in a monetary sense. That really is the bottom line with anything we own or collect. If no one cares to own it, its really just a doll. If there are other collectors that want it, then you have something to sell. You then find out how much people are willing to pay for it or a similar item and walla! See there it's easier than you thought!! Ebay is a place to search, see what other similar items are going for. If you don't see the doll you want to check on, try again in a few days as inventory is always changing. You can also try Amazon or Other sites that sell dolls. Ruby Lane is one such place but there are many.
Just like anything else it's all about.....supply and demand!
1. How desirable is this particular doll with other collectors?? If no one wants to own it, then its not worth much in a monetary sense. That really is the bottom line with anything we own or collect. If no one cares to own it, its really just a doll. If there are other collectors that want it, then you have something to sell. You then find out how much people are willing to pay for it or a similar item and walla! See there it's easier than you thought!! Ebay is a place to search, see what other similar items are going for. If you don't see the doll you want to check on, try again in a few days as inventory is always changing. You can also try Amazon or Other sites that sell dolls. Ruby Lane is one such place but there are many.
These are a few of
the things you will need to know to help you figure out what a doll is worth.
There are doll books on the market that can help people to find out what a doll
may be worth. I will do another post soon about that.
I do try to give a
value here for most of my dolls ONLY to help people who come to see what their
own doll may be worth.
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here for more info to come, and thank you for stopping by.
